Unloading apparatus.



Patented luly r2, |90l.

G. E. TITCOMB.

UNLOADING APPARATUS.

A 1' t' flldA 9,1900.) (No Model.) www!" e g 4 sheets-sheet l,

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l venfol' www A No. 677,7la.- Patented luly 2, |901.

, G. E. TITCUMB.

UNLDADING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 9, 1900;) (No Model.) 4.Sheets-Sheet 2.

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G. E. TITCOMB.

UNLUADING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 9, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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No. 677,7l.A Patented 1u|y 2, mol..

Q E. Tncom.

UNLDING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 9, 1900.) (No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE E. TITCOMB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

UNLOADING APPARATUS.

SPEGIFEGATLEON forming part of Letters Patent N o. 677,718, dated July2, 1901. Application iilecl August 9, 1900. lSerial No. 26,333. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t muy.; concer-7b.

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. TITCOMB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvementin Unloading Apparatus, of

whichthe following is a full, clear, and exactv description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to unloading apparatus which is especially adaptedfor transferring ore from the holds of vessels to cars or a stock-pile.1

The object of the invention is to reduce both the time occupied and thecost involved in unloading ore-boats, and these results are attained inthe manner and by the means substantially as hereinafter described.

The invention consists in the combination of parts as shown anddescribed, and deiinitely set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus inposition to unload an ore-boat, which is shown in vertical section. Fig.2 is a plan view of-"the same apparatus. view through the wheel-truckand the member G, which carries the bucket-track and other mechanismwhich will be described. Fig. 4L isa top plan view of this member. Fig.

5 isa sectional plan View on line 5 5 of Fig.. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectionalplan on line 6 6 ofv Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bucket,

and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the bucket.

The apparatus includes in its most approved form, as shown, asupporting-frame A, which is to be located on the dock. It may be of anysuitable construction; but preferablyr it is movable along tracks on thedock and is of skeleton form, so that carsto receive the ore may passbeneath it. This frame supports a horizontal skeleton platform B, whichmay be adjusted vertically, preferably by means of four screws a2 CL2 atits corners. An extension skeleton platform B is hinged at its rear edgeto the front edge of this platform B and is adapted when the apparatusisin operative position to rest upon the deck of the boat Y and over thehatchway y through which the boat is being unloaded. When the apparatusis not in use, this extension-platform may be swung on its Fig. 3 is acentral vertical sectionalalso, may a wheel-truck E, which supports theunloading mechanism. The wheel-truck is provided with an electric motore4, by

whicl1,through suitable intermediate mechanism, it. is propelled alongthe tracks b4. This wheel-truck is provided with two concentric circulartracks c e', and a circular wheel-truck H rides upon the inner track e,and a ring J is mounted upon the wheels h of this truck H, which ringhas gear-teethj on its outer periphery. A pinion 7c engages with thesegear-teeth, and this pinion is attached to a shaft K, suitably mountedon the truck E. A bevel-gear 7c',

secured to this shaft, meshes with a bevelgear c6 on the shaft c7 of anelectric motor e8,

carried by the truck E. Thus by the operation of this motor this ring Jmay be turned in either direction. A vertically movable member G passesthrough this ring J and has vertical grooves g g, formed by angle-ironsg g', secured toits sides. Tongues j2, fast to the ring J, ent-er thesegrooves and, while permitting Vertical movement of this member relativeto the ring, prevent any relative rotation of the said two parts. Thismember G is of tubular character, although it is of skeleton formation,built up of iron bars and beams bolted or riveted together. nal buckettracks or guides g3, placed at diametrically opposite points, whichtracks eX- tend vertically downward and then are curved around intohorizontal position, the horizontal parts g4 ofA said tracks being fastto and It has two intersupported by a horizontal extension g5 of the IOOmay be turned upon said track e' to bring any of said doors into properrelation to the dumpcar M. This vertical member has mounted on its upperend a motor P, preferably an electric motor, and a plurality of drums QQ, R R, R R', and S, upon which cables may be wound and which may bedriven by said motor, intermediate mechanisms, and clutches.

Two cables U U', which are attached, respectivel y, to diametricallyopposite sides of the ring J, pass down under sheaves Q6, mounted on thevertically-movable member G near its low-er end,and then up over sheavesS S2 to the winding-drum S on the top of said member. These cables arewound up or unwound, as the case may be, with the result of lifting orlowering said movable member G to bring its lower end to the properelevation relative to the ore in the hold.

The bucket C, as shown, for elevating the material is of the clam-shellVariety. The two shells c c' are rotatably4 mounted on a horizontal barV, which is a rigid part of the bucket-supporting frame. This frameconsists of a plurality of triangular plates v', which are fastenedtogetherand held in proper relation by said baro and by three other barsc2 fus e4, located at the corners of said plates. A horizontal shaft F,parallel with said bars, is mounted in this frame in about the middle ofsaid triangular plates. On the projecting ends of this shaft are looselymounted friction-rollers f f which fit in the bucket-tracks g3, carriedby said member G. Secured to this shaft between these friction-rollersand the bucket-shells are two sheavesfz f3. To each end of these sheavesthe cables r 0" are fastened and wound in opposite directions, and theupper ends of said cable are connected, respectively, to thewinding-drums R R. Vhen the four drumsR R R' R' are simultaneouslyturned in one direction, the bucket and its frame may be raised throughthe tubular member G, being guided by the buckettracks g3.

Two cables q q are attached, respectively, to .rings q2, which looselyembrace the shaft F, which cables pass around sheaves g8 at the outerend of the horizontal extension g of the member G, then under sheaves g,placed near the angle between said extension and the vertical member,and thence up to winding-drums Q Q at the top of the member.

The shells of the bucket are opened and closed by the followingmechanism: Chains attached to the top edge of said bucket-shells pass upand over idler-pulleys t', mounted on the upper bar c3, and thence downto sheaves f4, attached to said shaft. The chainslf t, coming from bothsides of the bucket, are attached to the corresponding side of saidsheaves f4. It is therefore apparent that by turning said shaft F in onedirection these chains are wound up and the bucket-shells are compelledto swing away from each other. In other words, the bucket is opened.Other chains 15H2 are likewise attached to the top edge of saidbucket-shells and pass under idlerpulleys t3 t3, loosely mounted on thetwo bars e2 fu", and thence up to other sheaves f5, attached to saidshaft F. These are the closing-chains, and they are attached tocorresponding sides of their respective sheaves f5. By turning saidshaft F so as to wind up chains t2 the other chainstare unwonnd, andvice versa.

It will be observed that in the hoisting operation the bucket alonemoves up and down. The vertically-movable member is, strictly speaking,avertically-ad j ustable member, because it is not moved except for thepurpose of adjusting its position relative to the orepile in the boat,and it may be moved up or down through the ring J, or the said ring andsaid member may be turned to eect this result. When the apparatus is notin use, the said member is drawn up so that its lower end is above theplatform on which the truck E is supported. Said truck is moved inwardonto the platform B and the platform is swung up into the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l.

When a boat to be unloaded ties up to the dock, the frame A is movedalong the docktracks to the proper position, the platform B is loweredso that it rests upon the deck of the boat, but over one of thehatchways, the truck E is moved out onto the platform B', and the memberG is lowered through the hatchway and turned, if necessary, to bring itslower end into proper relation with the ore-pile in the hold of theboat. The bucket is during these movements in its elevated position andis preferably open, as shown in Fig. 3. The bucket is lowered byunwinding equally the cables fr r fr" r', and at the same time thecables q t] are wound up. Thebucket is drawn by these cables around thecurve in the buckettrack and along the horizontal part thereof up to theore. Then without loosening up on the cables q the cables 1 r are takenin and the cables fr r slacked up, which results through the describedmechanism in closing the bucket-shells over a load of the ore. Thecables fr r are now wound up equally, and thereby the bucket is raised,the cables q being unwonnd to permit such movement. When the bucket isnear the top of its movement, its frame strikes a horizontal beam W andlifts it. This beam is suitably guided, and its ends are attached bylinks w w to arms 0, which extend outward from two deflecting-plates OO,which are hinged to said member and are adapted to swing inwardbeneath the bucket until their inner edges come together, at which timeboth plates are inclined outward, as shown in Fig. 3. The lifting of thebar acts through said links to swing said plates into the position shownin Fig. 3. The bucket is then opened by taking in the cables andslacking up on the cables. The load falls onto these deflecting-platesand slides outward and then down into the hopper N. The guide-boxes T T,consisting of inclined plates above the plates IOO IIO

O and with vertical end plates or lianges t, prevent the ore falling outbeyond the hopper. The plates O are wide enough and steep enough so thatthe ore will not pass over the side edges before it comes under theguiding infiuenceoftheflangest. Themasrststated, the bucket is loweredby equally unwinding the cables r r. The downward movement of the bucketpermits the bar W to descend, thereby, through the links, dac., swingingthe deiiecting-plates O O into vertical position, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 3, which permits the bucket to descend. The ore in thehopperI is allowed to fall, as desired, through the doors into thedump-car, by which it is carried inward over the cars and dumped. Thehopper N may be turned to bring any door therein in proper relation tothe said dump-car.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In unloading apparatus,thecombination of a vertically-adjustable member capable of extending downinto the hold of a boat and having its lower end extended laterally,continuous bucket-guides carried by said member and its lateralextension, and means for rotating said member on a substantiallyvertical axis, with a bucket movable in said guides, and means formoving said bucket in both directions along said guides, substantiallyas specified.

2. In an unloadingapparatus, the combination of a wheel-truck, a membersupported thereby and horizontally rotatable thereon and having avertical opening through it, a vertical guide member adjustablysupported by said rotatable member in said opening, bucket-guidescarried by said guide member, a bucket, and means for causing it totravel along said guides, substantially as described.

3. In an unloading apparatus, the combination of a wheel-truck, ahorizontally-'rotatable member supported by said Wheel-truck, a verticalguide member housed in said horizontally-rotatable member and verticallyadjustable therein, said guide member having its lower end 4extendedlaterally, a bucket, and means for causing it to travel along thelateral extension and up the guide member, substantially as described.

4. In unloading apparatus, the combination of tracks adapted to supporta wheel-truck over the hold and in line with the hatchway of a boat, awheel-truck movable thereon, a vertically-adjustable member supported bysaid wheel-truck and capable of extending through the hatchway into thehold of said boat, and bucket-guides carried by said member, with abucket bodily movable in said guides, and means for raising and loweringsaid bucket along said guides, substantially as specified. i

5. The combination, with a support, of a skeleton platform pivotedthereto and ad apt.

ed to project substantially horizontally therefrom or be tipped up, aself-contained excavating, elevating and discharging apparatus adaptedto be supported on said platform when horizontal or bodily shifted ontosaid support to allow the platform to be tipped up, and an ancillaryconveyer for receiving the discharge of said self-con tained apparatuswithout requiring its said bodily shifting, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a support, a skeleton platform pivoted theretoand adapted to project substantiallyhorizontally therefrom, cooperatingtracks on said platform and support, an excavating and elevatingapparatus supported on said tracks and adapted to be moved bodily in andout thereon, and an ancillary conveyer supported on a track on saidplatform and adapted to receive the discharge of said elevatingapparatus without requiring its said bodily movement, substantially asdescribed.

7. In unloading apparatus, the combination of a skeleton platformadapted to be supported over the boat to be unloaded, a Wheeltruckmovable upon said platform, a vertically-adjustable member supported bythe said truck and having a laterally-extended foot on its lower end,continuous bucketguides carried by said member and its foot, a bucket,and means for moving said bucket in both directions along saidbucket-guides, substantially as described.

8. In unloading apparatus, the combination of a skeleton platform, awheel-truck mov able upon the same, a rotatable ring carried by saidtruck, a tubular member which is vertically adjustable through said ringand has a laterally-extended foot on its lower end,

internal bucket-guides carried by said mem- Y ber and its foot, andmeans for moving a bucket in both directions along said guides,substantially as specified.

9. In unloading apparatus, the combination of a skeleton platform, awheel-truck mov'- able thereon, a tubular member which is supported bythe said truck and is vertically ad-l justable through said truck andhas a laterally-extended foot on its lower end, a rotatable annularhopper surrounding said member, internal bucket-guides in said memberand its foot, and means for moving a bucket in both directions alongsaid guides, substantially as specified.

IO. In unloading apparatus, the combina-- tion of a skeleton platform, awheel-truck, a rotatable ring carried by said truck, a. tubular memberwhich is vertically adjustable through said ring and has alaterally-extended skeleton foot on its lower end, internalvbucket-guides in said member and its foot, a bucket, a set of cables formoving said bucket inward on the horizontal track and upward throughsaid tubular member, other cables.

for moving the bucket downward and outward along said foot, andwinding-drums for taking in and paying out said cables located on thetop of said tubular member, substantially as specified.

ll. In unloading apparatus, the combina- IOO IIO

tion of the wheel-truck, a vertically-adjustable tubular membersupported by said truck, a bucket, means for raising and lowering thebucket through said member, an annular hopper surrounding said member,deectingplates hinged to said member, and means for moving them out ofthe way of the upwardlymoving bucket and then into inclined positionbeneath said bucket, substantially as specified.

12. In unloading apparatus, the combination of the wheel-truck, avertically-adjustable tubular member supported by it, a bucket, meansfor raising and lowering the bucket through said member, an annularhopper surrounding said member, and deiiecting-plates hinged to saidmember-and having outwardly-extended arms, a vertically-movable beam,means for raising the same when the bucket is near its top position, andlinks connecting said beam with the arms on said deiiecting-plates,substantially as described.

13. In unloading mechanism, the combination of a frame, avertically-adjustable skeleton platform supported thereby, an extensionskeleton platform hinged to said platform, means for swinging saidextension-platform on its hinge, tracks on said two platforms, awheel-truck movable on said tracks, a vertically-adjustable tubularmember supported by said truck and having a laterally-extended foot,bucket-guides in said member and its foot, a bucket movable in saidguides, means for moving the bucket from one end tothe other of saidguides, and means for opening and closing the bucket, substantially asspecified.

14. In unloading mechanism, the combination of a frame, avertically-adjustable skeleton platform supported thereby, an extensionskeleton platform hinged to said platform, means for swinging saidextension-platform on its hinge, tracks on said two-platforms, awheel-truck movable on said tracks, a rotatable ring mounted upon saidtruck, a verticallyadjustable tubular member movable through said ring,and having a laterally-extended foot, bucket-guides in said member andits foot, a bucket movable in said guides,

means for moving the bucket from one end to the other of said guides,and means for opening and closing the bucket, substantially asspecified.

15. In unloading mechanism, the combination of a frame, avertically-adjustable skeleton platform supported thereby, an extension.skeleton platform hinged to said platform,

means for swinging said extension-platform on its hinge, trackson saidtwo platforms, a wheel-truck movable on said tracks, a rotatable ringmounted upon said truck, a vertically-adjustable tubular member vmovablethrough said ring, and having a laterally-extended foot, bucket-guidesin said member and its foot, a bucket movable in said guides, means formoving the bucket from one end to the other of said guides, and meansfor opening and closing the bucket, an annular hopper surrounding saidmember and supported by said truck, substantially as specified.

16. `In unloading mechanism, the combination of a tubular member havinga laterallyextended foot on its lower end, bucket-guides in said memberand its foot, a bucket-supporting frame, a horizontal shaft mounted insaid frame, rolls on the ends of said shaft for engagement with saidbucket-guides, sheaves secured to said shaft, cables wound in oppositedirections on said sheaves,winding-drums on the top of said members andcapable of independently taking up and paying out said cables, othercables secured to rings loose on said shaft, sheaves at the outer end ofs aid foot around which said cables pass, Windingdrums on the top of themember for taking in and paying out said cable, two bucket-shells hingedto said frame, two sets of chains secured to the edges of said shells,two sets of idler-sheaves for guiding said chains, and sheaves securedto said Vshaft for winding up and unwinding said chains, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. E. TITCOMB.

Vitnesses:

E. B. GILcHRIsr, ALBERT H. BATES.

